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Updated: Jul 15, 2025
14:23
Generation of Induced Regulatory T Cells from Primary Human Naïve and Memory T Cells
Published on: April 16, 2012
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Regulatory T cells in dominant immunologic tolerance.
Peter Georgiev1, Mehdi Benamar2, SeongJun Han1
1Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|October 1, 2023
Summary
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial for immune tolerance to self and microbes. Their dysfunction links to immune diseases, but they also play emerging roles in tissue repair and metabolism.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Regulatory T cells (Tregs), identified by the transcription factor forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3), are key mediators of peripheral immune tolerance.
- Defects in Treg function are implicated in various autoimmune and immune dysregulatory diseases.
- Emerging evidence highlights Tregs' roles beyond tolerance, including tissue repair and metabolic regulation, due to their adaptability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the multifaceted roles of Tregs in maintaining immunologic tolerance and host homeostasis.
- To explore the broader functions of Tregs in tissue repair and metabolic regulation.
- To discuss the therapeutic potential of harnessing Tregs for human diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on regulatory T cell function.
- Analysis of studies investigating Treg roles in autoimmunity, commensalism, tissue repair, and metabolism.
- Synthesis of current understanding and future therapeutic directions.
Main Results:
- Tregs are essential for suppressing autoimmunity and maintaining tolerance to commensal microbiota.
- Tregs exhibit unique tissue-specific adaptations and specialization programs.
- A growing body of evidence supports Treg involvement in tissue repair and metabolic homeostasis.
Conclusions:
- Regulatory T cells play a critical, diverse role in immune tolerance and overall host health.
- Their functions extend to tissue repair and metabolic regulation, offering new therapeutic avenues.
- Harnessing Treg capabilities presents promising strategies for treating human immune-related disorders.
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